Key result
Chronic major depressive disorder was significantly associated with an increase in appetite or weight gain during the most severe episode compared to non-chronic depression (OR 1.55).
Why the study?
Previous population-based studies provided inconsistent results regarding the co-variates of chronic depression, likely due to methodological limitations.
Cross-Sectional (n=3,618)
No
Effect estimate: OR 1.55 (95% CI 1.11-2.15)
Absolute Event Rate: 19.9% vs 12.8%
p-value: p=<0.01
Chronic major depressive disorder is associated with specific modifiable risk factors and clinical features that differ from non-chronic depression, highlighting potential targets for psychotherapeutic intervention.
May flag modifiable features in chronic MDD; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective trials before practice change.
PURPOSE: Previous population-based studies have partially provided inconsistent results regarding the co-variates of chronic depression, which were likely to be attributable to methodological limitations. The present paper that compared people with chronic major depressive disorder (MDD), non-chronic MDD and no mood disorder in the community focused on specific atypical and melancholic depression symptoms and subtypes of MDD, family history (FH) of mood disorders, measured physical cardio-vascular risk factors (CVRF), personality traits, coping style and adverse life-events. METHODS: Data stemmed from a population-based cohort including 3618 participants (female 53%, n=1918; mean age 50.9 years, s.d. 8.8 years). Among them 563 had a lifetime history of chronic MDD, 1060 of non-chronic MDD and 1995 of no mood disorder. Diagnostic and FH information were elicited through semi-structured interviews, CVRF were assessed through physical investigations. RESULTS: The major findings were that chronic MDD was associated with increase in appetite/weight and suicidal ideation/attempts during the most severe episode, higher exposure to life-events in adulthood, higher levels of neuroticism, lower levels of extraversion and lower levels of informal help-seeking behavior but less frequent FH of MDD compared to non-chronic MDD. CONCLUSION: Chronic MDD is associated with a series of potential modifiable risk factors which are accessible via psychotherapeutic approaches that may improve the course of chronic MDD.
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Ambresin et al. (2023) conducted a cross-sectional in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) (n=3,618). Chronic MDD vs. Non-chronic MDD was evaluated on Increase in appetite or reported weight gain during the most severe episode (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.11-2.15, p=<0.01). Chronic major depressive disorder was significantly associated with an increase in appetite or weight gain during the most severe episode compared to non-chronic depression (OR 1.55).
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